WINDSOR, England: Ukraine won its first ever gold medal in rowing at the Olympics on Wednesday when its women's quadruple sculls beat Germany by a length at Dorney Lake.

The Ukrainians crossed in a time of 6 minutes, 35.93 seconds to justify their status as narrow favorites, having won all three World Cup regattas this year.

The Germans won silver ahead of the United States, which took bronze.

It is Ukraine's second gold of the London Games, taking the country's overall medal haul to four.

Germany failed to win gold in the event for only the second time since the discipline was added to the Olympic rowing schedule in 1988.